'Major Crimes' to be shown on UK's Universal Channel

Major Crimes is to be screened exclusively in the UK on the Universal Channel.

The police procedural series is a spinoff of long-running show The Closer, which ended with a seventh series in 2012.

Major Crimes stars Mary McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica) as Captain Sharon Raydor, head of the LAPD's Major Crimes Division and a character first introduced in season five of The Closer.

Channel 5 had previously stated the show was "under consideration" for a spot in its schedules.

The show's first series was a ratings success in the US, with its debut episode attracting 9.5 million viewers when DVR playback is taken into account. It was renewed for a second series in September last year.

James Newton, Channel Director of the Universal Channel, said: "With its engaging characters, great story-telling and outstanding ensemble cast, Major Crimes has had millions of US fans gripped week after week.

"It is high-quality US procedural crime drama at its entertaining best and we are extremely proud to give it center stage in the Universal Channel schedule."